Free coffee is coming, and you only have to wait until Tuesday. National Coffee Day lands on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, and chains from Tim Hortons to Krispy Kreme are handing out free cups, BOGO drinks and cheap refills. We rounded up the National Coffee Day deals we could confirm, plus the fine print you need to know before you head out.
Quick note: The deals below are based on company announcements and news reports as of Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Offers can change and often vary by location, so check your chain’s app or website before you go.
National Coffee Day 2026 Deals at a Glance
Here is the fast version. The best no-strings freebies this year come from Tim Hortons and Dunn Brothers, while Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, Einstein Bros. and Paris Baguette will give you a free cup with any purchase.
| Chain | Deal | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Hortons | Free coffee, any size, on Sept. 29 | No purchase necessary; must be activated in the Tim Hortons app |
| Dunn Brothers Coffee | Free small brewed coffee or cold brew on Sept. 29 | No purchase necessary; use the app or ask at the counter; limit one per customer; U.S. locations |
| Dunkin’ | Free medium hot or iced coffee on Sept. 29 | Dunkin’ Rewards members; any purchase in the Dunkin’ app |
| Krispy Kreme | Free small or medium hot or iced coffee on Sept. 29 | Any purchase; participating shops; one per guest |
| Krispy Kreme | Dozen Original Glazed Coffee Flavored Doughnuts for $5, Sept. 26-29 | Buy any dozen at regular price; participating shops; promo code COFFEE online |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Free iced coffee, any size and flavor, on Sept. 29 | Any purchase; mention the promo in the bakery; in-bakery only; no rewards membership needed |
| Paris Baguette | Free medium hot or iced coffee on Sept. 29 | PB Rewards members; any purchase |
| DoorDash (Dunkin’) | Free medium hot or iced Dunkin’ coffee on Sept. 29 | Spend $15 on DoorDash |
| DoorDash (Scooter’s Coffee) | BOGO medium Caramelicious drinks, Sept. 27-29 | Order through DoorDash; drinks with “Caramelicious” in the name |
| Coffee Project New York | Free drip coffee and cold brew, 2-4 p.m. Sept. 29 | At the company’s eight NYC cafes |
| Eataly Caffè (NYC) | Free Crema Caffè on Sept. 29 | Buy any food item from the counter; while supplies last |
| Peet’s Coffee | $30 Cold Brew Pass: one medium cold brew a day for 30 days | Buy the pass by Sept. 30 |
| Dairy Queen | $3 small Coffee Cooler | Participating U.S. locations through Nov. 1 |
The Best Free Coffee Deals, Explained
Tim Hortons: Free coffee, any size, no purchase
This is the cleanest deal of the day. According to NBC’s National Coffee Day roundup, Tim Hortons is giving away a free coffee of any size on Sept. 29 with no purchase required. You can add flavors like vanilla, vanilla almond, mocha or caramel. The catch: the offer has to be activated in the Tim Hortons app, so download it before Tuesday.
Dunn Brothers: Free small brew, no app required
In a Sept. 23 press release, Minneapolis-based Dunn Brothers Coffee said every U.S. location will offer one free small brewed coffee or cold brew on Sept. 29. No purchase is needed, and you can either use the Dunn Brothers app or simply ask at the counter. That makes it one of the easiest freebies of the day if there is a shop near you.
Dunkin’: Free medium coffee for Rewards members
Dunkin’ Rewards members can get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase made through the Dunkin’ app on Sept. 29, per NBC. The chain is also marking the day with its first L.L.Bean x Dunkin’ collaboration, including a limited-edition L.L.Bean Coffee Tote. If you order delivery instead, DoorDash is offering a free medium Dunkin’ hot or iced coffee when you spend $15 on Sept. 29.
Krispy Kreme: Free coffee plus a coffee-flavored doughnut
Krispy Kreme is launching a limited-time Original Glazed Coffee Flavored Doughnut, available only from Sept. 26 through Sept. 29. From Sept. 26 to 29, you can buy any dozen at regular price and add a dozen of the new coffee doughnuts for $5 at participating shops (online orders use promo code COFFEE). On Sept. 29 itself, participating shops will give you a free small or medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase, limited to one per guest.
Einstein Bros. Bagels: Free iced coffee, any size
Einstein Bros. is offering a free iced coffee of any size and any flavor, including limited-time flavors like Crème Brûlée, with any purchase on Sept. 29. You need to mention the promotion when ordering in the bakery. It does not require a rewards membership, coupon or digital offer, but it is valid in bakeries only.
Scooter’s Coffee: BOGO on DoorDash
From Sept. 27 to 29, DoorDash is running a buy one, get one free deal on medium Caramelicious drinks from Scooter’s Coffee. Eligible drinks include the Original Caramelicious, Pumpkin Caramelicious and Caramelicious Creme Cold Brew.
More National Coffee Day Freebies and Discounts
- Paris Baguette: PB Rewards members get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase on Sept. 29.
- Coffee Project New York: Free drip coffee and cold brew from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 29 at all eight cafes, including the new Upper East Side location.
- Eataly Caffè (New York City): Buy any food item from the counter on Sept. 29 and get a complimentary Crema Caffè while supplies last.
- Keurig: Coffee maker discounts run through Sept. 29, including the K-Supreme Plus Special Edition for $119.99 (regularly $219.99). Select K-Cup pod boxes drop to $12 on Sept. 29-30, with some exclusions.
- Peet’s Coffee: The $30 Cold Brew Pass, good for one medium cold brew a day for 30 straight days, is on sale through Sept. 30.
- At-home brewers: Fresh Roasted Coffee is offering 25% off a featured region each day Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 with code COFFEEDAY, and Verena Street Coffee has 25% off bagged coffee through midnight Sept. 29.
Some big names were missing from confirmed 2026 lists as of Friday, including Starbucks, Panera, 7-Eleven and Wawa. Those chains have run promos in past years, so keep an eye on their apps over the weekend, but do not count on a freebie until it is announced.
How to Actually Score Free Coffee on Sept. 29
- Download the apps now. Tim Hortons and Dunkin’ both run their deals through their apps. Sign up and log in before Tuesday so you are not fumbling with passwords in line.
- Join the rewards programs. Dunkin’ Rewards and PB Rewards membership is required for those offers. Most programs are free to join.
- Check participating locations. Krispy Kreme, Dairy Queen and others say “participating locations,” which means franchise stores can opt out. A quick call or app check can save a wasted trip.
- Read the fine print. Many deals are “with any purchase,” so the cheapest add-on (a single doughnut or bagel) is your ticket in.
- Go early. Several offers are “while supplies last” or limited to certain hours, like Coffee Project New York’s 2-4 p.m. window.
If you are in bargain-hunting mode anyway, our Prime Big Deal Days prep guide covers how to get ready for Amazon’s Oct. 6-7 sale, where coffee gear often shows up.
A Quick History of National Coffee Day
National Coffee Day’s exact origins are fuzzy. Coffee-themed days have been promoted in various countries for decades, including a “Coffee Day” launched in Japan in 1983. In the U.S., Sept. 29 caught on in the 2000s and has since become a marketing favorite for chains looking to kick off the fall coffee season.
It is not the only coffee holiday, either. The International Coffee Organization celebrates International Coffee Day on Oct. 1, with a focus on the farmers who grow the beans. So if you miss Tuesday, you have a second excuse two days later.
Fall drinks are a big part of the fun. For more on what is trending on menus right now, check out our look at the fall 2026 food trends taking over your feed.
How Much Coffee Is Too Much?
With free cups at every corner, it is worth a quick reality check. For healthy adults, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cited 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, roughly four or five cups of coffee, as an amount not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects. The FDA also notes that people vary widely in how sensitive they are to caffeine and how fast they process it, and some medications and conditions can increase sensitivity.
If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a health condition, the FDA recommends talking with your health care provider about caffeine. Also remember that a large flavored iced coffee can carry far more caffeine and sugar than a small drip. Collecting three free drinks in one morning might be a win for your wallet, but maybe not for your sleep.
The Takeaway
The best National Coffee Day deals this year are the truly free ones: Tim Hortons (any size, app activation required) and Dunn Brothers (small brew, no purchase). If you are already buying breakfast, Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, Einstein Bros. and Paris Baguette will add a free cup. Set up your apps this weekend, confirm your local store is participating, and enjoy Tuesday’s cup responsibly.
Stay tuned to USA One News for more.
